Parents and unpaid carers are set to receive a boost with new
employment protections, as three Government-backed Private
Members Bills received royal assent yesterday [ Wednesday 24
May].
This wave of new workers’ rights has been welcomed by charities
and parties across parliament.
When in force, these new laws will help to increase workforce
participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing
field by ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a
competitive advantage and delivering on our priority to grow the
economy.
Parents and carers will benefit from the following new
protections once in force:
-
Up to 12 weeks of paid neonatal care
leave for employed parents whose children are
admitted to neonatal care, so that they can spend more time
with their baby at what is a hugely stressful time. This
is in addition to other leave and pay entitlements such as
maternity and paternity.
-
Redundancy protection for pregnant women and new
parents with the extension of existing redundancy
protections to cover pregnancy and a period of time after
parents return to work
-
A new entitlement for unpaid carers to a
week of flexible unpaid leave a year, for employees who are
caring for a dependant with a long-term care need. This will
enable carers to better balance their caring and work
responsibilities, supporting them to remain in employment.
Business Minister said:
We know how stressful it can be for parents caring for a new-born
in neonatal care, or someone who is trying to juggle work with
caring responsibilities, and these additional protections will
ensure they get the support they need.
Over the past year, we have proven our commitment to supporting
workers across the UK, including raising the national living wage
to its highest yet. Protecting and enhancing workers’ rights
whilst supporting businesses to grow remains a priority for this
government and a dynamic labour helps to drive up wages,
employment and economic growth.
The Government backed bills will boost support to vulnerable
workers, and to parents during incredibly difficult times. Up to
12 weeks of paid leave provided by the Neonatal Care (Leave and
Pay Act makes the UK as a world leader in this area, allowing
parents to be with their babies instead of worrying about work.
Shocking research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission
showed that approximately one in nine mothers were either
dismissed, made compulsorily redundant or treated so poorly they
felt they had to leave their job. The Protection from Redundancy
Act will extend existing protections to protect pregnant women
and new parents against this discriminatory practice.
Charities have been calling for further support for carers. There
are millions of unpaid carers in the UK, and The Carer’s Leave
Act will provide the support they need to continue with their
invaluable contribution to society. Once in force, they won’t
have to struggle between caring for the ones they love and
working to provide for their families.
Background
- The new laws that received royal assent today were:
- The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act, introduced by , will allow
eligible employed parents whose new-born baby is admitted to
neonatal care to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave, in addition
to other leave entitlements such as maternity and paternity
leave.
- The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave)
Act, introduced by , will allow the extension
of existing redundancy protections whilst on Maternity Leave,
Adoption Leave or Shared Parental Leave to also cover pregnancy
and a period of time after a new parent has returned to work.
- The Carer’s Leave Act, introduced by , will create a new
statutory unpaid leave entitlement for employees who are caring
for a dependant with a long-term care need.
-
The Government will lay down secondary legislation in due
course to implement these new entitlements.
-
Research on the experiences of pregnant women in the
workplace was undertaken by the EHRC and published online.
